Black men who have sex with men (MSM) bear the greatest burden of HIV across all races/ethnicities and risk groups, accounting for ~40% of diagnoses among MSM of all races/ethnicities, and one-third among all men. Compared to other races/ethnicities, Blacks living with HIV are less likely to be diagnosed, to be engaged in care, and to receive and adhere to antiretroviral treatment (ART). Black MSM in particular show very low ART adherence. In this 3-year intervention development study, we propose to develop and pilot test a culturally relevant intervention to reduce medical mistrust and address discrimination among Black MSM living with HIV. Our work with Black MSM suggests that culturally relevant factors such as perceived discrimination and HIV- related medical mistrust (e.g., HIV """"""""conspiracy beliefs,"""""""" like """"""""HIV is a manmade virus"""""""") contribute to disparities in HIV treatment behaviors, in some cases even more than factors known to be highly influential like depression and substance use. Black MSM living with HIV are at the nexus of 3 stigmatized social categories (HIV-serostatus, race, sexual orientation) from which they face discrimination, which in turn can lead to disparities by increasing detrimental stress responses related to poor self-control (maladaptive coping, poor health behaviors). Discrimination also fosters mistrust of public health entities, and suspicion of medical treatments. However, no interventions have been developed to overcome these culturally relevant barriers. In the proposed innovative community-based participatory research project, we will partner with a Black-MSM- serving AIDS service organization (ASO) with high success in engaging Black MSM in research. In Phase 1, we will conduct qualitative interviews with 30 Black MSM and 20 social service and mental health providers, and engage stakeholders in a community advisory process to obtain input on sustainable intervention components that can improve the effectiveness of service delivery. In Phase 2, we will conduct a process evaluation of one pilot intervention group of 10 participants, delivered via a community HIV support group. In Phase 3, we will conduct a small randomized pilot trial with 3 intervention groups and 3 control groups (10 participants each).
The specific aims are to: 1. Conduct qualitative semi-structured interviews with Black MSM, and engage AIDS service organization (ASO) staff and mental health counselors, in order to develop intervention modules that address mistrust and discrimination among Black MSM. 2. Examine whether the pilot intervention can reduce mistrust and improve coping responses to discrimination among Black MSM. 3. Explore pilot intervention effects on mental health, antiretroviral treatment adherence, and engagement in care among Black MSM. Our goal is for the proposed culturally relevant intervention to be exportable to interventions already developed for improving adherence and engagement in care among people living with HIV. If shown to be effective in future R01-funded research, our intervention will be flexible for use in community settings, such as in existing HIV support groups already being sustained throughout the US.

Public Health Relevance

HIV-positive Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV, and Black MSM living with HIV have very low levels of treatment adherence and poor survival times compared to other groups. We propose to develop and pilot test a culturally relevant intervention for HIV-positive Black MSM to address mistrust and improve coping responses to discrimination - two factors that are related to poor health and health behavior in this population. Developing culturally relevant interventions is key to limiting the impact of discrimination and ultimately, narrowing disparities.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Planning Grant (R34)
Project #
5R34MH096544-02
Application #
8514079
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZMH1-ERB-L (02))
Program Officer
Grossman, Cynthia I
Project Start
2012-08-01
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2013-06-01
Budget End
2014-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$238,271
Indirect Cost
$60,960
Name
Children's Hospital Boston
Department
Type
DUNS #
076593722
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Bogart, Laura M; Dale, Sannisha K; Daffin, Gary K et al. (2018) Pilot intervention for discrimination-related coping among HIV-positive Black sexual minority men. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 24:541-551
Galvan, Frank H; Bogart, Laura M; Klein, David J et al. (2017) Medical mistrust as a key mediator in the association between perceived discrimination and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive Latino men. J Behav Med 40:784-793
Levison, Julie H; Bogart, Laura M; Khan, Iman F et al. (2017) ""Where It Falls Apart"": Barriers to Retention in HIV Care in Latino Immigrants and Migrants. AIDS Patient Care STDS 31:394-405
Bogart, Laura M; Dale, Sannisha K; Christian, Jana et al. (2017) Coping with discrimination among HIV-positive Black men who have sex with men. Cult Health Sex 19:723-737